Shoe lasting device



Oct. 31, 1939. P. ARONOV El AL SHOE LASTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fade/awry ZZ/J 4702200 (Mange/p di e Patented a. 31, 1939 UNITED stares PATENT orFicE vsnor. LASTING DEVICE Philip Aronov and Walter H. Scott, Chicago, Ill., assignors to A. & S. Shoe Engineering 00., Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application January 27, 1937, Serial No. 122,624

23 Claims.

The invention relates. generally to shoe machinery and more particularly to shoe lasting apparatus.

The primary object of the invention isto provide a novel shoe lasting device which is efficient against thelast, and in each of which as much against the last to properly shape said portion.

Still another object is to provide an improved shoe lasting device adaptedto draw the entire periphery of the upper tightly against the last and embodying novel means for locking the parts in place to; maintain theupper in proper shape until. permanently set. ,j

A furtherobject is to provide an improved machine for applying the lastingv device to the. shoe in a convenient and eificient manner constructed so that the lasting device may be operated to shape the different portions of the shoe separately and. to apply such pressures to the respective portions as may be needed.

Qther objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig- ,1 isa side elevation of a machine and lasting device 1 embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the machinewith the last supporting post shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, showing a detail. ofthe slide mechanism.

' Fig- 4 is. a plan view of the improved lasting device. r

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 6 shows the device. as viewed from th under side- I Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views taken, respectively along. the lines l'land 8-43 of Fig. 4.

:Figs. 9 and 1 0v are sectional views taken, respectively, alongthe lines 9-9 and iil|0 of Fig. 6- U I While the invention, is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, we

have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that we do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the manufacture of shoes, the uppers are ordinarily built up of one or more relatively fiat pieces of material sewed or otherwise secured together in the general form of a foot. An upper II of this character is shown in Figs. 1 and 5. A welt I2 of the of the usual form is secured to the upper to provide for attachment of the sole. Before the sole is attached, the upper is shaped by stretching it over a last I3 formed to correspond to the interior of the shoe. In this operation, which is commonly referred to as the lasting operation, the flat portion of the upper adjacent the welt is drawn in so as to fit tightly over the rounded edges of the last. Leather uppers are usually shaped while moist and are preferably held in this shaped condition until dry so that the shape will be permanently retained.

The present invention provides an eificient lasting device of unitary construction for drawing in the upper in the above manner in a single, operation and for maintaining it in this condition until permanently set. The device is so constructed that different portions of the upper may be drawn in successively to stretch the material evenly and uniformly without weakening it or forming wrinkles therein, thus producing a more durable and better shaped shoe. Novel locking means embodied in the device serves to hold it securely in. place upon the shoe to maintain the shoe in proper shape through subsequent operations of the manufacturing process.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the improved lasting device comprises a frame [4 on which are mounted a flexible member l5 adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe, and a member [6 adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe and to be sprung into engagement with the sides of the shoe. As herein shown, the frame [4 consists of a generally rectangular plate of sheet metal having the central portion cut away to one edge to form an elongated slot ll adapted to receive the end of the shoe. The side edges of the plate are bent reversely as at I8 to form sure to properly shape the same and forthereparallel grooves l9 (Fig. 10) constituting a guideway for slidably supporting the member l6.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, the member [6 is of generally U-shaped form, the interior edge thereof corresponding closely to the outline of the heel end of a shoe. The end sections 20 of the member are relatively wide and are adapted to fit loosely in the grooves l9 so as to permit limited lateral movement of the member. A tab 2| pressed out at the edge of one of the sections 20 is arranged to cooperate with a notch 22 formed in the side portion l8 of the frame as shown in Fig. 9 toprevent the member Hi from being withdrawn entirely from the guideway. i

The end sections 20 of the member l6 areconnected by an arcuate strip 23 which is relatively narrow thus providing a degree of flexibility which permits the end sections to be forced inwardly to shape the instep portion of the shoe. By forming the member of thin, flexible sheet material such as spring steel or the like, the end sections 20 may be forced inwardly repeatedly without danger of permanently deforming the strip 23. v

Extending rearwardly from the central portion of the connecting strip 2! is a lug 24 which is pivotally connected at 25 to a plate or slide 25 which is slidably supported in the grooves lll'adjacent the rear end of the frame. The slide 26 and member l6 thus move together longitudinally of the shoe, but by reason of the pivoted connection, the member is enabled to shift laterally to accommodate itself accurately to the'position of the shoe. I f v V The slide 26 serves to guide the rear end of the member in its movement intooperative engagement with a shoe and, in addition, operates to confine such movement within predetermined limits. To this end, the slide is formed with a pair of angularly disposed depending arms 21 (Figs. 6 and 10) which carry headed pinsZB between which a flexible strap 29 is suspended. The strap 29 on engaging theend of the shoe prevents further movement of the member relative to the shoe.

Means is provided for yieldably connecting the member l6 with the frame M for movement together as a unit until the member is forced against the end of the shoe with sufficient presafter permitting relative movement of the member and frame whereby the ends of the member are forced or sprung inwardly to shape the instep portion of the shoe. f To this end, rollers 36 carried on each of the end sections 20 of the member are arranged'to cooperate with inwardly inclined cam surfaces 3| formed on the ends of the inturned side portions 58 of the frame. The positioning of the rollers is such that, in the movement of the cam surfaces thereover, the end sections of the member are pressed inwardly. Such movement is resisted by thespring action of the strip 23 which tends to hold the end sections spread apart so that the member is carried for ward with the frame until its movement is arrested by the strap 29 engaging the 'heel of the shoe. Upon further'movement of the frame, the cam surfaces slide over the rollers and press the end section 29 inwardly thus drawing the instep portion of the upper over the last.

The remaining portion of the upper forward of the-instep is drawn over the last by the flexible member l5. In its preferred form, the member l5 comprises a Wire of spring steel or the like which may be repeatedly drawn into the shape of the shoe without becoming permanently bent. This wire is arranged in the form of a loop adapted to be placed around the toe portion of the shoe, preferably in the groove formed by the seam joining the upper and the welt as shown in Fig. 5.

The wire I5 is assembled with the other elements .of the lasting device by carrying the ends rearwardly through suitable guide slots 32 formed in the respective end sections 20 of the member I6, apertures 33 in the arms 21 of the plate 26 In the preferred form of the device, means is provided for holding the wire against forward movement after being drawn around the shoe so as to lock the parts of the lasting device in place while other operations are performed in the shoe or until the shoe becomes permanently set in the desired shape. that the locking means may be dispensed withif desired, particularly when the sole is attachedto the upper immediately after the shaping'opera- It will be appreciated, of course,

tion. 'In this case,'the upper is held in shape by the sole until it becomes permanently set.

Asherein shown, the locking means for the strip STrigidly secured to the bar 36 intermediate its ends and arranged to project substantially "lasting device comprises an elongated flat metal below the lower edge of the bar. The strip is K formed with an aperture adapted to. receivea horizontally disposed cylindrical rod 38 which is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the flange 35 of the frame l4 so, as to project rearwardly of the frame. The aperture in the strip is of suflicient size to permit the strip to move freely relative to the bar when the strip is perpendicular to the rod. When the strip is tilted,- howeventhe edges of the aperture bind on the rod and prevent relative movement between the parts. Such tilting is produced by the tension of the wire l5 when drawn tightly around the shoe. Thus forward movement of the wire is effectually prevented and the wire is held tightly in place around the shoe.

In order to prevent the strip 31 from tilting when the wire is being drawnrearwardly; the upper end of the strip is bent over and down in back of the bar 36 to form a stop 39 adapted to abut against the rod 38 and hold the strip 31 in an upright position. The stop slides freely over the rod in the rearward movement fo the actuator zontal top 40 and legs 4! adapted to rest upon the As herein shown (Figs. 1 to 3), the machine includes a slide 44 supported for movement transversely of the table in a guideway formed by spaced parallel side members 45 bolted or other- Wise rigidly secured to thetable top 40. The slide a cross member 49 which connects the two side members'45 at their inner ends. A. rod 50' anchored to the slide passes through the. coiled spring at and sleeve 48 and, through the medium of anut' 5i threaded on' the projecting end,.operates to limit the. forward movement of the. slide. Centered over; the slide and. supported by the side members 45 is a vertically projecting? last supporting post 52 (Figs. 1 and '2'). The post is preferably bored out; to slidably receive a rod 53 which carries the'la'st (3: on its. upper end. By sliding the rod into or out of the post*,..thev last may be adjusted to the desired position relative to the other parts of themachine'. A set screw 54' threading into the postis provided for. locking the rod in set position.

Pivoted intermediate its ends upon the projecting end of the slide 44 is a lever 55 arranged to operate the lasting device. To this end, the lever is formed with spaced parallel side members 56 which are spread apart at their'upper ends soas to straddle the guide rod 38 of the lasting device when the lever is inserted between the actuator 35 and the rear edge. of the frame I4. A spacer 51 on the-rod 38 normally holds the actuator spaced substantially from the frame to permit entry of the end portions 56' ofv the-lever therebetween, the portions being suitably tapered as at 58 to facilitate such entry.

fixed to the underside of the tabletop, is secured to a lever 5|. The lever 61 is pivotally supported at its inner end by a bracket62 anchored to the floor and its'outer end, which projects beyond the table;1is enlarged toform a foot pedal 62 for actuating, the lever. A coiled tension spring 63 connecting between the lever ii! and the underside of the table top tends to hold thepe'dal in a raised position. A similar spring" lil acting; on the upper end of the lever 55 tends to hold it in the forward position shown and to maintain the chain 59 taut." When the pedal is depressed, the lever 551s rocked about its pivot to move the actuator rearwardly and thus draw the wire 15 tightlyaround the shoe mounted on the last It.

In this operation, the slide 44 is heldin its normal position by the action of the spring 46..

When the wire l5 has been drawn sufiiciently tight around the shoe to give it the-desired shape,

the spring 46 yields and permits the slide to' move 'rearwardly so that the upper end of the lever'remains substantially stationary and holds thewire in tightly drawn condition upon further depression of the pedal. This movement of. the'slide 44 is utilized to move the frame M of the lasting device longitudinally of the shoe thereby moving the shaping member l6 intooperative engagement with the shoe. a verticallyprojecting. arm 64 tapered at it'supper end as at 64 for' insertion betweenthe actuator 36 and the flange 35 f the lasting device. The endof the armisbifurcated'as at [i (Fig. 4) to accommodate the rod 38 and the spacer 5'1.

Upon forward movement the arm is adapted to abut against the flange 35: of the frame, thus carrying the frame forwardly toward thelast I3.

To this end the'slidecarries As: explained above; the forward movement of the: frame first moves the U-shaped member it into tight. engagement with the heel end of the shoe and: subsequently presses the end portions of themember' inwardly to shape the instep portion of the shoe. Thus the entire shoe is shaped in three separate and distinct steps effected successively by the depression of the pedal 62.

- Whenthe foot pedal is released, the slide 44 and lever 55 are returned to normal position by the action. of. the springs 46 and 63, respectively. Movement of either part beyond the normal position is prevented. by a stop in the form of a pin 65 carried on the arm 64 and adapted for engagement by the lever 55. The shaping elements of the lasting device are not returned to normal position. at this time, however, being locked in place as hereinbefore described. The last with the upper in place thereon may thus be removed from the machine for further operations.

It may be desirable, at times, to increase the pressure. of the wire IE on the toe end of the shoe over that applied in the operation above described. To this end means is provided to lock the slide 44 against movement so that any desired pressure may be appliedv to shape the toe end of the shoe before the other shaping elements are operated. As herein shown, the locking means comprises a lever 66 (Fig. 2) pivotally supported at one end in a slot 61 formed in one of the side members 45. The lever is formed with a cam surface 58' adapted to engage the side of the slide and thus lock it against movement when the lever is rocked on its pivot.

In order'to hold the upper I l tightly on the last during theshaping operation, means is provided for clamping it securely to the last. The clampingmeans comprises, in the present instance, an arm 69 pivotally supported at one end on a horizontal shaft l0 journaled in stationary brackets H mounted on the side members 45. The other end of the arm is formed with a rounded head ?2 adapted topress against the instep portion of the shoe when the member is rocked to the position shown in Fig. 1. This rocking action may be effected by any convenient'means such as a hand lever 13 fast on the shaft .10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a novel and useful lasting device capable of forming the entire periphery of the shoe in a single operation. The device is 7 arranged to lock automatically when applied to device may be. used repeatedly.

We claim as our invention:

1. A shoe lasting device comprising, in com- .bination, a member adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe, and a plate of spring material movable in a direction opposite to said member and adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe parallel to the sole and means operable upon engagement of said plate with the end of the shoe. to spring the plate edgewise into engagement with the sides of the shoe.

2. A. shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a member adapted to be drawn tight- 1y around one end of a shoe, and a U- shaped plate of spring material adapted to fit aroundtheother end of the shoe and to be forced against the sides of the shoe, said plate having its'ends engaging said member to likewise force saidfmember against the sidesof the shoe.

3. Ashoelasting device comprising, in combi- Moreover, the I nation, a flexible member adapted to fltaround one end of a shoe, a U-shaped member adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, slots in said U-shaped member for positioning and'guiding said flexible member adjacent the :side's' of the shoe, means for moving said members'relative to each other longitudinally of the shoe to shape the ends thereof, and means for moving the slotted portions of said U-sh'aped member laterally to force the ends of such member and said flexible member against the sides of the shoe to shape the same. l 4. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a flexible member adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, a U-shaped member adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, means attached to said flexible member adaptedto be drawn longitudinally of the shoe to tighten the flexible member around said one end of the shoe, a frame supporting said U-shaped member, means for moving said frame longitudinally of the shoe, and coacting means on said frame and said U-shaped member tending to cause the frame and member to'first move simultaneously to carry the member into operative engagement with the other end of the shoe to shape the same and then to force the ends of the member inwardly to shape the sides of the shoe.

5. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a rigid frame adapted to extend partially around a shoe, a wire supported on said frame to define a loop adapted to fit aroundone end of the shoe, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, and means for supporting said plate on said frame comprising a slide mounted for reciprocation in said frame, said plate being pivotally connected to saidslide to permit the plate to adjust its position 'auto matically with respect to the shoe.- 6. Ashoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a member adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, and a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, said Ll-shaped plate being pivotally supported to enable it 'to accommodate itself to the position of the shoe.

7. A shoe lasting device comprising'in combination, a wire adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe, a frame for supporting and guiding said wire, an actuator-including a transverse member secured to the respective ends of the wire at the rear of said frame, and means on said frame coacting withsaid actuator to guide the same when drawn rearwardly to tighten said wire and to friotionally engage the same to hold the wire tight. I

8. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a wire adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe, a frame for supporting and guiding said wire, a rod projecting rearwardly from said frame, an actuator including a pair of crossed bars one of which is secure'dto the respective ends of said wire at the rear of said frame, the other of said bars having an'ape'rture adapted to slidably receive said rod, said rod cooperating with said other bar to guide the actuator for rearward movement to tighten said Wire and to frictionally resist forward movement 0 the actuator to loosen the Wire. 9. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a flexible member adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe to shape the same, a U-shaped plate member adapted to be pressed around the otherend of the shoe to shapethe same, a frame for supporting said U- shaped plate memben and means secured to. said flexible member cooperating with means'on said frame to) hold said members tightly against the shoe and to lock them in place. 7

10. A shoe'lasting device comprising in combination, a flexible member adapted to be drawn tightly around one end of a shoe to shape the same,-a rigid member adapted to fit around the other end: of the shoe, a U-shaped member mounted on said rigid member adapted to be pressed tightly against said otherlend of the shoe to shaperthe same, and means secured to said flexible member cooperating with means on said frame'to hold the flexible member and said U-shaped'member tightly against the shoe and to 10m; them in place. llpAshoelasting device comprising, in combination, arigid frame adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, said frame having spaced guideways extending along opposite sides of the shoe, a U-shaped member supported in said guidewaysfor movement relative to said frame, and means connecting said members and said frame for movement together to carry the memberinto operative engagement with the shoe, said connecting means yielding upon engagement of the member with the shoe to permit continued movement of said frame while the member remains stationary. i

'12. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a rigid frame adapted to'fit around one end of ashoe, said frame having spaced guideways extending along opposite sides of the shoe, a U-shaped member supported in said guideways for movementvrelative to said frame,

:means yieldably connecting saidmember and said frame to cause the parts to move together until thememberoperatively engages the end of theshoe and to permit continued movement of said frame while the member remains stationary, and means operative in such continued movement ofsaid frame for forcing the ends of said member inwardly against the sides of the shoe.

- -"13.'.A shoe'lasting device comprising, in combination, a rigid frame adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, said frame having "spaced guideways extending along opposite, sides of .the shoe,

a plate slidably supported in said guid'eways, a

'U-shaped member supported in said gui-deways and connected to said plate for movement therewith, means yieldably connecting said member and said frame for movement together to carry the member into engagement with the shoe, and stop means on said plate engageable with the shoe for limiting the extent of movement of said member relative to the shoe.

14'. A shoe lasting device comprising in combination,. a rigid frame adapted to fit around one endof a shoe, said frame having spaced guideways extending along opposite sides of the shoe, a plate slidably supported in said guideways, a U-shaped member loosely supported in said guideways for limited movement laterally of said frame and pivotally connected to said plate for movement therewith longitudinally of the frame, and means yieldably connecting said member and said frame to cause all of said parts to move together to carry the member into operative engagement with the shoe for shaping the same;

,l5.'A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a rigid frame adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, said frame having spaced guideways for movement relative to said frame, and means yieldably connecting the member and the frame for movement together comprising cam surfaces formed on said frame adjacent the ends of said guideways adapted to engage followers mounted on the ends of said member.

16. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a rigid frame adapted to fit around one end of a shoe, said frame having spaced guideways extending along opposite sides of the shoe, a U-shaped member supported in said guideways for movement relative to said frame, means yieldably connecting the member and frame for movement together in one direction, and means for preventing relative movement between the member and the frame in the other direction.

17. A machine for lasting shoes comprising, in combination, a work support for a last adapted to receive the shoe, a Wire looped around one end of the shoewith the ends extending rearwardly of said last, a transversely disposed bar connected to the ends of said wire, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, a frame supporting said plate, a lever adapted to engage said bar to draw the same rearwardly and tighten said wire around the shoe, a slide pivotally supporting said lever and having an arm engageable with said frame to force theframe and said plate forwardly against the shoe, a pedal for swinging said lever, and a spring acting on said slide to maintain it in normal position during the initial movement of said lever by said pedal to tighten said wire around the shoe, said spring permitting forward movement of the slide to force said plate against the shoe upon further movement of the pedal and lever after the wire has been drawn tightly around the shoe.

18. A machine for lasting shoes comprising,

in combination, a work support for a last adapted to receive the shoe, a wire looped around one end of the shoe with the ends extending rearwardly of said last, a transversely disposed bar connected to the ends of said wire, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, a frame supporting said plate, a lever adapted to engage said bar to draw the same rearwardly and tighten said wire around the shoe, a slide pivotally supporting said lever and having an arm engageable with said frame to force the frame and said plate forwardly against the shoe, a spring resisting forward movement of said slide, a pedal normally operative when depressed to first swing said lever to tighten said wire around the shoe and then to force said slide forwardly against the action of said spring to move said plate into engagement with the shoe, and locking means operable to prevent forward movement of said slide.

19. A machine for setting a shoe lasting device including a pair of members adapted to be moved into clamping engagement with the respective ends of a shoe, said machine comprising, in combination, a fixed support for the shoe, a pair of elements for forcing one of said members in one direction against the shoe and for drawing the other member in the opposite direction against the shoe, common means for operating said elements, and means for locking one of said elements against movement to permit the other element to complete its movement.

20. A machine for setting a shoe lasting device including a pair of members adapted to be moved into clamping engagement with the respective ends of a shoe, said machine comprising, in combination, a fixed support for the shoe, a slide for forcing one of said members into engagement with the shoe, a lever pivotally supported by said slide for drawing the other member into engagement with the shoe, common means for swinging said lever and for moving said slide, and locking means for holding said slide against movement whereby said common means serves to operate said lever alone.

21. A machine for lasting shoes comprising, in combination, a Work support for a last adapted to receive a shoe, a flexible member adapted to fit around one end of the shoe, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the other end of the shoe, actuating means including a pedal for performing the operation of drawing said member tightly around the shoe and of forcing said plate into engagement with the shoe, and clamping means operable to confine said actuating means to performance of only one of said operations.

' 22. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a wire adapted to be drawn tightly around the toe of a shoe, a U-shaped plate adapted to fit around the heel of the shoe and forwardly to the wide portion of the shoe, a frame member, said plate being supported by said frame member to permit a forward movement of the plate into position on the shoe to cause it to fit snugly at the rear of the heel and at that part where the shoe converges from its wide portion to the instep, the forward portion of said plate at the same time having a laterally inward movement to fit tightly on the sides of the shoe.

23. A shoe lasting device comprising, in combination, a wire adapted to be drawn tightly around the toe of a shoe by a rearward movement, a U-shaped plate shaped to fit around the heel of the shoe and arranged to be moved forwardly into position on the shoe, and means on said plate for drawing the wire vertically into conformity with the contour of the shoe as the wire is drawn rearwardly and the plate is moved forwardly.

PHILIP ARONOV. WALTER H. SCOTT. 

